SECTION 1. Section 31-10.1-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10.1 entitled "Special License for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and Other Motor Driven Cycles" is hereby amended to read as follows:

31-10.1-1.1. Motorcycle driver education program. -- (a) The department of elementary and secondary education board of governors for higher education and the office of higher education shall provide between a minimum of six (6) and a maximum of twenty (20) hours of classroom instruction and/or on-the-road driver training, as determined by the department, for applicants or prospective applicants for a first motorcycle operator's license under this chapter. Instruction shall be given by a person eligible for a teacher's certificate issued under the authority of the state board of regents. No person teaching classroom or on-the-road instruction under this section shall own, be employed by, or be associated with a commercial driving school.

(b) Motorcycle driver education programs shall be available to any eligible resident applicant holding a valid Rhode Island motor vehicle operator's license.

(c) A tuition fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be required as an enrollment fee to be paid by an eligible applicant. If an applicant requests additional hours he or she will be charged at a rate of five dollars ($5.00) per hour. The board of governors for higher education shall establish such fees as are deemed necessary to support this program.

(d) The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized to establish regulations to further implement this section.

The board of governors for higher education and the office of higher education are authorized to establish regulations to further implement this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.